“I’m doing much better, thank you for all your… everything you did,” he said, “and I’m glad you’re okay too. I don’t know if I would’ve made it out if not for you and Drake’s friend… Rictor, right?”
“Yes,” It was not hard to note that her voice had gone from friendly to downright chilly; she pressed her lips together a moment before the expression cleared. “In any case, I’m glad you’ve made a full recovery.”
“Thanks. Truly,” he said. He still worried about a great many things, but that he lost no one this time was something he knew he could not take for granted, and it was enough of a victory. (Also, that he remained no more harassed than usual was a personal relief.)
“You would have done the same for me, I think,” Ari said. And where was the selfish girl of last year, who would have simply walked on by? Sometimes recently she suspected that she had been changed by the people who surrounded her into someone completely different. “And that’s terribly serious conversation that calls for champagne, I think.” Luckily, it was almost as plentiful as the tea, and scooping up two glasses was no trouble. “Shall we have a toast to more parties and fewer battles?”
Merri took the glass and smiled back at her. “More parties and fewer battles, that sounds wonderful.” And he clinked his glass against hers.
She sipped, considered, then said,quietly “And… your secret’s safe with me.”
He nearly choked on the champagne, but he quickly recovered to avoid making an even bigger scene than in that split second. “M-my secret?”
She didn’t answer in words, only game him an amused look that very clearly said, I am certain you can do better than that. Faram, had he really believed her when she’d dismissed Rictor’s fears with a glib insult?
Sheepishly, Merri turned his gaze to the contents of his flute. “How did you… how do you…?”
“I have eyes,” she pointed out. Then, perhaps a bit unfairly (because it would certainly seem very reasonable, for all it was misleading), “I’m friends with Flynn, you know that. And Aud, too. I know you talked to her a few months back.”
Merri nodded. “Right, of course.” Something didn’t quite add up, considering her coming to him for research on this topic over a year ago, but she had claimed it was for a friend… maybe she knew of yet another? “So… you won’t tell?” He knew she just said she wouldn’t, but it was still a fear that pounded in his ears. More people than he intended to find out were finding out, slowly. He had to be more careful next time.